Mood swing
It's almost sickening to feel the amount of times the mood is wildly swinging back and forth through the course of this relegation fight. Like a pendulum caught in a tornado.
Before the match, spirits were high among the Everton fanbase. Burnley had lost while thousands were gathering outside Goodison Park to welcome the coach again in tremendous scenes, at one stage it looked as if Leeds United might follow the same route too.
A late equaliser for Jesse Marsch's side against Brighton will have completely changed things around for them and potentially revitalised a campaign that looked to be limping towards the finish. But for the Blues, while it was a little disappointing, it didn't change much of the task at hand.
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Win against Brentford and Everton would confirm their safety. But, for reasons that everybody now knows of course, that was unfortunately not the case.
Comparing the mood across the sides at the bottom of the table in the space of that two hours or so before the Blues kicked off and after, and it's another huge swing. The points haven't really altered all too much, but the underlying feeling is different.
Suddenly, Everton go into their match against Crystal Palace knowing that it's one of the most crucial games in their recent history. You can't understate just how massive that game is.
At the same time, Burnley will be hosting an Aston Villa side who beat them very recently. There's little doubt that Mike Jackson and his squad will want revenge for that result.
Leeds, meanwhile, could well find themselves buoyed by a vital last-minute equaliser against Brighton. They have to wait a week before they're back in action once more though, closing out the campaign against Brentford - so will that feeling continue through to that point?
Regardless, rather than the relative positivity that permeated through all levels of the club in the immediate aftermath of recent matches, even the disappointing result against Watford, things had turned. A negative feeling in the pit of the stomach was back for many.
That was inevitable the longer this fight against relegation was left to drag out. Everton never do things the easy way, although it would have been nice if officiating decisions didn't work massively against them throughout these crucial moments.
But that's a conversation that's already been had at this point. Now Frank Lampard has to find a way to push his players through their latest setback and on the positive road once more.
That attitude in the stands has had a huge effect on the pitch. That was still the case in the first portion of this match until the decision that changed the game, and it must be the same heading into the visit of Palace.
It doesn't bear thinking about what will happen otherwise.
Mistakes bite
The decision that went against Everton in the first half clearly had a major impact on this result. But, realistically, you can still criticise Everton for the way they conceded their goals.
A few eyebrows were raised at the starting line-ups when Andre Gomes was named in a two-man midfield alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure, and as it transpired that was where the visitors got a lot of joy. They chopping and changed their formation throughout the game as Thomas Frank made changes to his personnel, but that battle in the centre of the pitch was always theirs.
Christian Eriksen was always going to be a vital cog for the Bees and he proved to be exactly that As Brentford dominated more and more of the ball as the match went on, the Denmark international was given far too much time to spread play as he pleased.
It might have seemed easier with the Blues down to ten men, and ultimately that will have been the case. But, his amount of time on the ball was always effective in pulling the hosts out of the block that Frank Lampard was creating.
Then we come to set pieces. Why is it always set pieces?
Everton conceded their second of the match from a simple enough corner that was whipped in towards the near post. They didn't lose that goal because they were down a man and left someone unmarked, it was down to their commitment and concentration in those situations once again.
Yoane Wissa made a darting run to the near post and beat Richarlison to the low cross in, looping his header over everyone and into the far side of Jordan Pickford's net. On the touchline, Paul Clement was left throwing his water bottle to the floor in anger.
He's the man tasked on the training pitch in creating this side's attacking and defensive systems from these dead ball situations, and in both aspects Everton are regularly falling short.
Then, for final strike shortly afterwards, you have to question the collective concentration once more. It feels like there have been far too many times in which the Blues have conceded at least two goals in quick succession to completely turn a match on its head this season.
In a more individual sense, again they couldn't stop the cross, and again they had someone switch off when marking for a header. Rico Henry sauntered beyond Anthony Gordon to rise highest and plant his effort into the far side.
Everton were left in a dreadful situation for the majority of the match, but they did not respond to their task well enough either.
Striker's goals
At the top end of the pitch, no doubt Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have been pretty happy at the time to get his name back on the scoresheet. It's been a long time coming.
He came off the bench at a difficult time earlier in the week against Watford but was finally given his opportunity from the start this time around, grabbing it with both hands when he did. He started the match with a certain amount of verve and desire, as did the rest of his teammates to be fair.
In the first few minutes the England international set out his stall well. He ran the channels when needed, he rose highest on numerous occasions to win headers, he was holding the ball up to bring his teammates into the game too.
And, when the opportunity came, he did finally get his first goal since August. Richarlison might not be best pleased about it, but they all count.
Calvert-Lewin showed the instinct to get even the faintest touch on his effort and make sure it found the back of the net at a crucial time for Everton, and that's exactly what he was on the pitch to do. After the red card, of course his game particularly completely changed.
There was little service or support to him, he was being asked to put in so much effort in terms of closing down at the top end of the pitch while teammates were of course being asked to sit much deeper. It was not an easy situation at all for him.
He'll have left the pitch with huge frustration that his goal couldn't make a difference. And, he'll be annoyed that he didn't get another opportunity to find the back of the net in the remaining minutes.
There's two matches left this season, how much has he got left to give? That could be key.
Reality sets in
As said previously, Crystal Palace is probably the biggest Everton match in a generation.
You get the feeling that it all boils down to this tie. The away form picked up in the previous two games, but you just can't rely on that given the swathes of evidence this season that came beforehand.
Add in the fact that the Blues have a dismal record on the road at Arsenal - barring a win last year in a behind-closed-doors match which certainly seemed to heighten their ability to win away - and the Eagles' visit to Goodison is nail-bitingly crucial.
Win, and they're safe. But, fans have just seen how quickly things can be turned on their head even when they do everything in their power to shout their side to a victory.
Those scenes outside Goodison have to be there again when Crystal Palace come to Merseyside, because the players need it. That noise pre-match and when Z Cars sounds over the speakers has to be as loud as ever, because the players need it.
The Chelsea game to begin this month seemed like an absolutely crucial one but it pales in comparison to Patrick Vieira bringing his squad here. Time and games are running out.
A lot of supporters believe that Everton must have their future mathematically secured before the final day of the season. To do that, the players have to show an almighty reaction and produce another Goodison Park escape.
Reality is really setting in that their next 90 minutes on their famous turf could ultimately decide their fate in the top division. That's a hugely daunting prospect, but one the players must endeavour to overcome.
How has it come to this? The tension is unbearable.
